My Pain is Yours
Author's Note: I've loved this story ever since I began writing it; I do not, by the way, own Hidan, or Kakuzu, or Itachi, or the hideous shark-man Kisame (if I owned him I would return him to the aquarium from whence he came!), or Pain, or Konan. But I do own Aiko and Shinsei! On that happy note, welcome to Chapter 3! Enjoy~
Chapter III: Premonition Fulfilled
Both the girls rushed out of the house and into the rain after gathering their belongings. Aiko looked to the sky; the weather was only going to worsen. Shinsei flinched as a bolt of jagged lightning cut through the sky as she clung to Aiko's arm.
Where would they go?
Aiko looked around and saw a pathway leading out of the village they were in. She sighed. They didn't have time to formulate a plan so she would just make one up as they fled. But still, what were they running from?
Already darting through the puddles, Aiko ignored the water seeping into her sandals. Her mind revolved around Shinsei's premonition. Red clouds…a waterfall…black sky…something's missing. Peering about her surroundings, Aiko could already feel her chin-length bangs plastering to her face. This heavy rain must be the waterfall…the black sky must be itself…
But I still have no explanation for the red clouds.
Shinsei was shivering, her tears were mingling with the rain; she didn't know what to think. She was only half-awake, if that. Squinting ahead of her, Shinsei could see Aiko beginning to get a little too far ahead. Much to her relief, Aiko stopped to check on her for a moment.
"Come on Shinsei-chan," Aiko tried to put on a brave smile. "Just a little bit farther until we're in the next village!" Sensing Aiko's concern over the situation, Shinsei managed a meek nod. Aiko was trying to install some form of confidence in Shinsei and so far it was failing.
"Aiko, I can't…run anymore," Shinsei admitted, hanging her head.
"Huh?" Aiko whirled her entire body around. "What do you mean?"
The hammering rain drowned out Shinsei's thoughts. Her mind was pounding. Whatever it was that was after them was coming fast. She could hardly stand the trepidation any longer.
"Why don't we just give up?" Shinsei sniffled, tears still streaming. "I don't know what to do!" She sank onto her knees, weeping and covering her face with her shaking hands. Aiko took in a deep breath; what now?
Kneeling next to Shinsei, Aiko murmured, "It's not over yet." Her words were spoken softly, but there was force behind them. "Trust me; I won't let anything happen to you without a fight." She grinned. "Come on; let's go before this weather gets any worse."
Nodding weakly, Shinsei obliged as she forced herself to stand up. She wobbled.
Aiko was smiling. "There you go." She reached into the pouch at her lower back and withdrew small brown pills that she held out to Shinsei. They rolled around in the palm of her hand. Shinsei gave her a quizzical look. "They're food pills," Aiko explained. "Eat one."
Taking one of the little balls and plopping it into her mouth, Shinsei chewed it bitterly. The taste was so bland. Empty. Just like the pitiless well of fear building up within her. She could now distinguish between the rain and her hot, angry tears.
Aiko watched her friend with expectant eyes. "Are you ready then?" Shinsei nodded. "Then let's start running." With that last comment she took off, pushing a food pill between her own lips. Shinsei followed, feeling a little stronger now that the food pill was giving her energy.
She stared ahead of herself at Aiko who had taken the lead again. Shinsei closed her deep blue eyes. Aiko…how will I ever be able to repay you for all of this?
Picking up his pace, Kakuzu hurried along, anxious to get the mission over with. He grumbled something to himself as the thunder boomed even closer to them. They were headed straight into the eye of the storm. Kakuzu glanced down at the briefcase he was lugging.
The sooner we find this girl the sooner my money will be somewhere safe and dry… Kakuzu reassured himself.
"Ugh, does this rain ever stop?!" Hidan groaned. Kakuzu grimaced; not only could his money get wet, but he still had his idiotic partner to deal with. Somehow he had managed to tune Hidan out for a little while; but that wasn't working anymore.
"Just shut up back there," Kakuzu growled over his shoulder.
"Will you cut it out?" Hidan spat onto the ground. "Yeesh, are you ever in a good mood?"
Rolling his eyes, Kakuzu refocused his attention back to the road they were running on. He couldn't allow himself to be distracted by Hidan. Kakuzu focused his chakra to his sensory organs. Then, he came to a sudden halt, causing Hidan to stop and trip over himself.
"What was that for?!" Hidan yelled over the drumming thunder. Kakuzu didn't answer. "Hey! Are you ignoring me?! Kakuzu?!"
"Shut up, idiot," Kakuzu hissed. "There's someone else around here!"
Hidan frowned. "Who?"
Deciding that his partner was an idiot and that even a full-blown explanation would be of no help whatsoever, Kakuzu ignored him again. Then, almost as soon as the presence had appeared it was gone. Kakuzu shivered. What the hell was that?
"Hello? Are you awake Kakuzu?" Hidan asked, rapping his knuckles against the side of Kakuzu's head. Kakuzu angrily swatted his hand away.
"Don't touch me!" Kakuzu roared. "Or else I really will kill you this time!"
"Oh please, for the love of Jashin don't start that up again!" Hidan rolled his eyes.
This only irritated Kakuzu all the more and sent him into an uncontrollable rage. He would have killed Hidan if he could have; oh the methods he would have loved to use; but he knew that he couldn't. Hidan was immortal. There would be no point in trying to kill him if he couldn't do so in the first place, so Kakuzu heaved out a sigh and settled for knocking over a row of trees instead. Hidan chuckled to himself.
"Is that helping your anger management problems?" Hidan sneered.
Kakuzu looked at Hidan over his shoulder and cast him a piercing glare. "Do. Not. Push. Me."
Shuddering, Hidan averted his eyes and scratched the back of his head, muttering, "Fine, fine, I'll stop, but only for now." Just you wait until we find somewhere to stay Kakuzu… Hidan laughed inwardly and Kakuzu eyed him suspiciously for a moment.
The sound of hammering rain drowned out their thoughts as the duo continued walking through the rain. It only seemed to be falling harder as Hidan and Kakuzu approached a fork in the road they were traveling. This was unprecedented. And with the heaviness of the rain, Kakuzu couldn't tell which way they were supposed to go.
"Which way are we going Kakuzu?" Hidan drawled. "Are we there yet?"
"Does it look like we're there?!" Kakuzu snapped. Before Hidan could make a smart remark, Kakuzu snarled, "No, it doesn't! That was a rhetorical question, you idiot!" Hidan twitched.
"You can't call me an idiot! I didn't even say anything!" Hidan yelled back.
"You were going to!" Kakuzu accused.
Stopping to bicker with each other, Hidan and Kakuzu stood in the pouring rain shouting and insulting one another as the lightning flickered on and off in the sky. The echoing thunder was almost drowned out by their arguing.
"We aren't getting anywhere!" Kakuzu finally said, giving up on the dispute.
"Of course we aren't!" Hidan replied as though the entire thing was Kakuzu's fault.
"Hey, this isn't my fault!" Kakuzu growled. Hidan couldn't believe it. Kakuzu was accusing him of something that he didn't even say again?! Now he was asking for it!
"I didn't say it was your fault!" Hidan hollered. "But I will say that I'm going to blame you!"
"For the love of God will you just stop talking?!" Kakuzu bellowed.
"Not until I get my say in!" Hidan retorted.
Kakuzu slapped his hand over his eye; this was ridiculous! He couldn't seem to get by one minute without quarreling with Hidan or being harassed by the immature Jashinist. This was really starting to get on his nerves.
However, things seemed to be getting better, much to Kakuzu's surprise, as two girls appeared, penetrating through the sheet of rain with loaded backpacks and duffle bags. Kakuzu couldn't believe his eyes. One of the girls fell to the ground and the other stopped. Kakuzu couldn't believe how auspicious his luck was.
Hidan, on the other hand, had taken no notice whatsoever to the newcomers.
"You know what Kakuzu?" Hidan continued ranting. "I don't even care anymore!"
"Hidan," Kakuzu said sharply. "Shut up. Now."
Hidan frowned and glanced over to see what Kakuzu was staring so intently at. Upon seeing Kakuzu's visualized target, a smirk crept across Hidan's lips, eyes alight.
Stopping short of the end of the road, Shinsei's knees buckled and her legs finally gave out. She released a small gasp as her knees plunged into the puddle waiting below her; water splashed everywhere. Aiko stopped abruptly and whirled around.
"Shinsei!" Aiko exclaimed. Strands of hair fell into her hazel eyes as she bent down to assist Shinsei in getting back up. Shinsei forced herself onto her feet.
Oh god, Shinsei thought to herself, mind throbbing, I can't do this for much longer! My vision's blurring…I'm soaked…I've got cramps that hurt like hell… She clamped her eyes shut. Had the food pill already worn off? Maybe…seeing that vision drained her anyhow.
Noticing Shinsei's growing weakness in strength, Aiko stopped to allow her to rest for a moment. The sharp-eyed kunoichi peered ahead of them into the rain and gasped as she saw something glint as it headed toward them.
A blade?!
"Shinsei duck!!" Aiko shouted, throwing herself on top of Shinsei. Shinsei released a startled scream. Both girls flattened against the ground. Aiko heard something slam into the ground as she stood up, eyes flaring.
Two men appeared in the rain, walking towards them. Aiko tensed.
"Well, well, what do we have here?" the first man asked, chuckling to himself. Aiko saw him yank on a rope and the weapon hurled at her and Shinsei from before flew backwards. It was a three-bladed scythe. The man caught it in his hand and smirked.
The brunette gritted her teeth. "Who are you?!" Aiko demanded. She quickly observed the two tall men before her. The one who had thrown the weapon had sleeked back hair that looked silvery in the rain, with purple eyes and a cloak collar unbuttoned to reveal his chest. The other wore a mask exposing only a pair of jade eyes gleaming behind a crimson background. She gasped. Wait a minute! Are these guys wearing…red clouds? Her eyes hardened.
Slinking in past the barricade of rain, Hidan and Kakuzu approached Aiko and Shinsei without hesitation, drenched. Hidan's lavender eyes were dancing. "If you were able to dodge my scythe so easily from such a close distance then you must be a ninja, eh?!"
"I am," Aiko admitted, stepping forward. "And you two are from the Akatsuki, no?"
Kakuzu's eyes flashed, although it was difficult to tell what kind of emotion he was feeling due to the incessant downfall of rain. He spoke in a deadly, low monotone, "How do you know about the Akatsuki, Aiko?"
Forgetting that what little information she knew about the Akatsuki was top secret, Aiko quickly backtracked. "Oh, you know, I hear snippets here and there." Her voice was dripping with sarcasm. To Kakuzu, it almost sounded as if she were mocking him. Seeing Kakuzu clench his fist to keep his anger in check, Hidan smirked with approval and looked at Aiko.
"Anyway," Hidan was grinning, "will you join the Akatsuki?"
Gazing solemnly at Hidan, Aiko observed him in silence. When did he become part of the Akatsuki? For that matter, who was he? Her eyes floated across his open chest and then locked upon a necklace. Dangling at the end of the necklace was a circular piece of metal with a triangle inscribed in its center. Aiko narrowed her eyes; what was that for?
"Tell me," Aiko directed her question at Hidan, "who are you?"
"Eh?" Hidan blinked back his surprise. He then noticed the way Aiko was gazing so intently at him and a smirk was beginning to surface upon his lips. "Why? Do you see something that you want?" Aiko's cheeks flushed quite red, and Shinsei made a disgusted facial expression.
Before Kakuzu got the chance to whack his partner upside the head, he started to sense the same presence from before they met up with Aiko and Shinsei. Apparently Aiko could perceive whoever or whatever it was as well because she had a kunai in hand and was whispering something to Shinsei. Kakuzu glared at his own partner.
"We have company…"
Watching the distant country miles and miles away, a man with Rinnegan eyes stood on a statue of a war god, whose many piercings defiled his warped face. Similar piercings were worn by the bearer of the Rinnegan eyes. He was keenly positioned atop the large statue's nose, gazing at the land before him, like a god would watch over its people from the heavens. His eyes showed no emotion.
A woman suddenly appeared behind him, below the statue. He turned to look at her.
"Pain-sama," the woman bowed her head in greeting and then straightened up. She adjusted the white origami flower decorating her hair and bounded gracefully to the top of the statue to join Pain. She bowed again upon reaching his side.
"What news, Konan?" the sole possessor of the Rinnegan eyes asked.
"Zetsu has sent Hidan and Kakuzu to track down the medical ninja that you requested, and Itachi and Kisame have gone off in search of the seer," Konan reported, her soulless ebony eyes darkened by the absence of the moon in the night sky. Pain turned away, refocusing on the village of Amegakure.
A harsh breeze whipped through the night, causing the red-clouded cloaks worn by the furtive pair to flow with the wind. The scent of freshness carried along the back of the wind filled the air with a new sense of purity. Pain inhaled deeply and then sighed. Konan kept her eyes locked on him, waiting for him to say something.
"The heavens weep a land away, but not upon us," Pain mused. Konan frowned.
"I beg your pardon, Pain-sama?" Konan shuffled her feet behind him. "What do you mean?"
"It is nothing," Pain closed his eyes. Konan averted hers. Silence settled in for a moment, neither Pain nor Konan speaking. Konan gazed across the land before her. It had changed so much; after so many years of war and disputing. But no longer. "Konan?" Pain's voice startled her, but she made no abrupt motions. She brought her firm eyes back to Pain.
"Yes, sir?"
"We are going." Pain said as he looked up at the sky. A profound thought suddenly passed through his mind and he wondered if Konan would listen. He glanced down to his right. He had to wonder if she ever listened or even tried to decrypt his enigmatic words. It didn't much matter one way or another, because she always seemed to be with him. His lips parted. "God needs his followers, but he needs his angel even more." Leaping off of the statue to land on the veranda below, he murmured, "Let us be off."
Not knowing where or what Pain meant, Konan followed; accommodating as always. After all, she owed everything to 'Pain' and had promised to devote herself to his causes no matter what they were, or what they required her to do. It was her obligation, no, her duty to serve this man for the rest of her life…
…no matter where the road might take her.
Back at the fork in the road, Aiko was scanning the rows of trees with suspicion. She knew that she sensed someone. More Akatsuki members? No, they only operated in pairs. She looked over at Hidan and Kakuzu. They were just as confused as she was. Shinsei was on guard like Aiko had told her to be. Aiko narrowed her eyes. Who else would be after them?
Then, her answer took out a line of trees on cue. Aiko reflexively shielded her face.
"So Itachi, here we are at long last!" a vociferous voice, belonging to the man that had chopped down a row of trees with one swing, triumphantly stated.
"Yes…at last…" the man standing beside him murmured.
A pair of men donning black cloaks identical to the ones Hidan and Kakuzu were wearing stepped out of the forest. Aiko lowered her arms to see the new two. One of them was leering through pointed, shark-like teeth at her. The other was emotionless as he lifted up the brim of his hat to peer at the people before him, Sharingan eyes revealed. Shinsei gasped.
Shinsei recognized the Kekkei Genkai of the Sharingan eyes from her own former village, Konohagakure. A cold shudder passed through her. That man had to be Uchiha Itachi. There was no other explanation for those eyes. He was the man that murdered his entire clan. Her stomach rose to her throat in anxiety and anticipation.
Uchiha Itachi.
Shinsei tightened her fists into shaking balls. Uchiha Itachi! I can't believe it; he really is alive after all. She chewed on her bottom lip, eyeing the man intently. Finally, I can carry out my mission now that I've found him. She tried to affirm herself, but to no avail. She trembled in Itachi's presence. Aiko noticed Shinsei's discomfort and frowned. Did she know him?
Hidan made a face. "Kakuzu, who are these people?"
"Members of the Akatsuki…obviously…" Kakuzu growled.
"Hey, I am new if you don't remember!" Hidan scoffed, defending himself. "You can't expect me to already have everyone in this organization memorized by name. Yeesh, I've been a member for what, a couple months now?!"
Kakuzu rolled his eyes, all the while thinking, I also can't expect Hidan to do ANYTHING concerning memorization or thinking for that matter…he is such an idiot.
Frowning behind the collar of his cloak, Itachi murmured, "Other members of the Akatsuki?" Sharingan activated, Itachi perused the faces. When his eyes eventually fell upon Shinsei, they hardened in acknowledgment. Shinsei stared into his Vermillion orbs, and then she rapidly began to feel light-headed. Wait…was he…? Oh no!
Aiko gasped as Shinsei collapsed; falling to the ground. She plunged into a puddle.
"Shinsei!" Aiko exclaimed. Kakuzu glanced over in alarm at Itachi. Had he…?
Shinsei lay sprawled across the ground on her back; she had hit her head on a rock and temporarily knocked herself out. Aiko's eyes darted accusingly to Itachi, immediately suspecting him as the culprit responsible for Shinsei's fainting. But her glowering orbs were quickly jerked back to Shinsei, as the redhead began to moan.
"Nnn! Can't…hear…no!" Shinsei groaned. Her eyelids twinged as if she were in pain. "No…! Dark…red clouds…no! No! NO!" Her body writhed and Aiko shook her roughly by the shoulders.
"Shinsei! Wake up!" Aiko yelled over the pounding of the rain. Shinsei convulsed. "Damn it!" Did Itachi place her under a genjutsu?! If that was the case she would shatter it! Clasping her hands together, Aiko chanted the word, "Kai!" She tapped Shinsei on the forehead.
"Shinsei? Shinsei wake up!" Aiko commanded. She tried releasing the genjutsu again. "Kai!" Nothing happened. She screwed up her face with frustration. "Kai!" She focused a large portion of her chakra in a last attempt. "Kai! Release!"
Though delayed, the redhead sat bolt upright, gasping for breath.
"Shinsei?!" Aiko repeated again. Shinsei glanced up at her companion with large, fearful eyes, trembling as if she were terrified. Her eyes were wet, glimmering with tears. Seeing Shinsei in her condition, Aiko felt uncontainable rage shooting through her veins; anger directed at Itachi. What the hell had he done to Shinsei?!
Looking at his partner, Hoshigaki Kisame shifted his eyes away from Hidan and Kakuzu. "Make sure that you don't overuse those eyes of yours Itachi," Kisame grinned. "We wouldn't want you to get too tuckered out." He laughed, although no one else found his comment funny.
"What did you do to Shinsei?!" Aiko shouted, getting to her feet. She whipped out a handful of senbon from a pouch at her back. "Akatsuki or not, I won't back down!" Shinsei whimpered something to Aiko, but Aiko was oblivious to the fact that Shinsei was begging her to stop.
Knowing Aiko better than anyone, Shinsei feared what would happen when she confessed about her encounter with Itachi in the genjutsu trap she had just been ensnared in. Clamping her eyes shut, Shinsei recalled what had happened in her mind; The sky, black as ebony, had caved in and she was consumed by a mass of red clouds. Shinsei shuddered. A genjutsu. She could see Itachi appearing, black crows cawed around him.
She couldn't speak.
"Yamanaka Shinsei, will you join the Akatsuki?" Itachi asked emotionlessly.
Shinsei felt choked; where was her voice?!
"We need you as a seer," Itachi explained. "We have been sent by our Leader to get you. Will you or won't you join?" Shinsei couldn't say anything. She couldn't see anything except Itachi. What was going on?! Where was Aiko?! Itachi narrowed his eyes, looking troubled for a moment. But he quickly dismissed his emotions. "Someone's trying to break the genjutsu."
Aiko?! Shinsei wondered. She felt a pang of fear run through her as Itachi turned his gaze upon her. But she refused to avert her topaz eyes and glared at him defiantly, uttering the words, "Release me from this genjutsu! Now!" She felt a spark of bravery ignite within her.
"Not until you swear loyalty to the Akatsuki," Itachi calmly replied as if Shinsei's sudden bravado meant nothing. Shinsei felt weak again, her courage draining, as Itachi glowered at her. "If you do not, then we may have to kill both you and your little friend."
"No!" Shinsei could speak again. She used her voice to yell as loudly as she could. "No!! NO!!!" Itachi winced as Shinsei's voice reverberated throughout the chambers of her mind. Her voice rose again as she declared, "I'll do whatever you want! We'll join the Akatsuki, just don't harm Aiko! I swear! I give you my word as a kunoichi! Just stay the hell away from my friend!"
Shinsei released a huff and clenched her fists, ready for whatever might happen next.
Itachi must have been pleased with her answer, because he put his fingers together, and the next thing Shinsei knew, she was awake.
Looking up at Aiko, Shinsei felt a feeling of guilt whelming up inside of her; she had sworn loyalty to the Akatsuki, for both her and Aiko, without giving Aiko a say. Shinsei knew that this would not please Aiko in the least, but it was too late to change that; she had given them her word. She could feel Itachi's eyes boring into her from across the road, and it made her shake.
But she had to do what was right.
Reaching up and tugging on the bottom of Aiko's drenched skirt to get her attention, Shinsei waited with as much patience as she could muster for Aiko to turn around. Aiko ceased her yelling at Itachi momentarily and brought her eyes to Shinsei.
"Don't worry, Shinsei," Aiko murmured, false-smiling, "I've got this under control. You're going to be fine. I'll keep us safe."
"No, Aiko listen to me," Shinsei was crying again. "Aiko…we have to…we have to…" She wiped at her eyes with her arm, blurting out into the night sky "We have to join the Akatsuki!" A clap of thunder boomed ominously through the sky.
Aiko's false smile faded.
Author's Note: Dun! Dun! Dun! Itachi and Kisame…Hidan and Kakuzu…Pain and Konan…well, there's half of the Akatsuki right here. And just by the way, Orochimaru isn't still part of the Akatsuki (you probably could've deducted that from Hidan's mentioning that he just joined, but oh well, I'll point it out anyways!).
Anyhow—thank you for the reviews and adding this story to your Favorite's list as always. Please, look forward to the next chapter!
-Aiko of the Akatsuki
